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Biomedical subjects

E M Halar

Publications and source records attributed to E M Halar.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Peroneal nerve conduction velocity: the importance of temperature correction.

The relationship between skin surface temperature, near nerve temperature and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) of the peroneal nerve was studied in normal and diabetic subjects to determine a peroneal NCV-treatment correction factor and to investigate whether temperature correction of NCV reduces its variability. Twenty normal subjects (age 21 to 72 years, mean 44, SD 17) were tested for peroneal NCV, skin and near nerve temperatures bilaterally at ambient temperature (mean 26.6C). Tests were repeated after cooling the lower extremity to a skin temperature of 26C, and at skin temperatures of 28 and 29C as the legs were allowed to gradually warm. An additional 20 normal and 20 diabetic subjects were tested weekly at ambient temperature for peroneal NCV and skin temperature, measured at 15cm above the lateral malleolus. The results showed a linear relationship between skin temperature, near nerve temperature and peroneal NCV (p less than 0.001). Peroneal NCV was altered 2.0 meters per second per degree (C) change in skin and near nerve temperature (p less than 0.001). When using our formula, peroneal motor NCV corrected = 2.0 [32 - skin temp(C)] + NCV (m/sec), for correction of peroneal NCV to a standard skin temperature of 32C, it was found that temperature corrected NCV were less variable (p less than 0.05) than noncorrected NCV in the same diabetic subjects. These results indicate that temperature corrected NCV should be calculated routinely during clinical NCV examinations of patients with peripheral neuropathies.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

H-reflex latency in uremic neuropathy: correlation with NCV and clinical findings.

Sixty-two uremic patients on dialysis of varying durations were tested bilaterally for posterior tibial nerve H-reflex latency, at 3-month intervals. Bilateral nerve conduction velocities (NCVs) of the peroneal, tibial, and sural nerves were concomitantly determined in all subjects. Proprioception sense, vibration perception threshold at the great toes, and deep tendon reflexes at the knee and ankle were determined in all subjects on the day of electrodiagnostic testing. The sensitivity of the H-reflex latency in detection of the onset and severity of uremic neuropathy was assessed. H-reflex latency changes were compared to NCV and clinical test results. The following was found: (1) of the parameters studied, the H-reflex latency appeared to be the most sensitive indicator of early uremic polyneuropathies, (2) electrodiagnostic tests were more sensitive to the onset of neuropathies than the clinical testing parameters studied, and (3) the sural sensory nerve appeared to be involved earlier than peroneal and tibial motor nerves in neuropathies studied.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Nerve conduction velocity in hypertensive patients.

Due to conflicting reports in the literature regarding nerve conduction velocities (NCVs) in hypertensives, peroneal and sural NCVs and facial nerve conduction latencies were studied in 30 hypertensives and in 30 controls. An improved technique of NCV measurement was used. Twenty-one of the hypertensives were retested after five weeks, and five of them were tested for motor and sensory NCVs of the median nerve during a short period of partial occlusion of blood flow in the arm. No changes were found that could be related to blood pressure, duration of hypertension, eyeground changes, or partial restriction of blood flow.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Gastrocnemius muscle belly and tendon length in stroke patients and able-bodied persons.

Length changes of gastrocnemius muscle belly and tendon at different passive tensions and ranges of motion (ROM) were measured in 31 healthy persons and 15 hemiplegic patients with clinically demonstrated ankle joint plantar flexion (PF) contractures. Preliminary studies were done to obtain accurate determination of gastrocnemius muscle insertion and origin points on x-ray films, to calculate the magnification factor due to x-ray beam divergence and to measure the length changes in muscle belly by the use of a wire hook placed at the muscle-tendon junction. Our results revealed: (1) change in length at different passive tensions is in the muscle belly, not in the tendon, (2) in hemiplegic patients no statistical difference in elongational characteristics of affected gastrocnemius muscle bellies with clinically demonstrated ankle PF contractures and of the contralateral nonaffected muscle bellies, (3) spastic and flaccid gastrocnemius muscle bellies are not statistically different in respect to passive elongations, (4) gastrocnemius muscle bellies of both affected and nonaffected legs of hemiplegic patients were statistically different from the muscle bellies of healthy persons in regard to maximal ROM and maxinum muscle belly length changes, (5) there was approximately .5 mm change in the belly length for each degree of ankle ROM, (6) age is not a factor influencing passive elongation of muscle belly, (7) average muscle belly lengths were consistently shorter in hemiplegic muscles while their tendon lengths did not change. The enumerated findings suggest that the limitation of ankle ROM in spastic hemiplegic legs obtained by the standard clinical measurements technique represents a change in muscle belly rest length without a structural contracture of the muscle fibers.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Multidisciplinary approach to sex education of spinal cord-injured patients.

The need for sex education of spinal cord-injured patients is often unmet by current rehabilitation programs. In the programs which do exist, therapeutic objectives vary widely, indicating a need for clarity and communication among professionals. An interdisciplinary approach to evaluating and treating sexual dysfunction is described which provides information to patients and families about sexual disorders related to spinal injury and offers counseling services to patients experiencing problems in their altered sex relations. Physiological, psychological, and social aspects of human sexuality as they are integrated into a multidisciplinary sex education program are discussed with specific recommendations for content which should be included in the information-giving counseling process.

Counseling↗
PubMed1976

Nerve conduction velocity measurements: improved accuracy using superimposed response waves.

A new procedure of serial motor nerve conduction velocity (NCV) measurements with the use of "superimposed response waves" technique (or double stimulus technique) was performed on 29 normal subjects. Six peripheral nerves were tested once a week for four to six weeks. A total of 760 NCV measurements were thus obtained to try to assess the magnitude of error in serial NCV testings. With the double stimulus technique employed, a significant reduction in variations of serial NCV measurements was found. The overall standard deviation of four to six consecutive NCV measurements in the 34 subjects was 1.3 meters per second with a coefficient of variation of 2.4%. These findings obtained with the double stimulus technique have proven to be approximately three times more accurate than results obtained by investigators who studied nerve conduction velocity measurement variation with single stimulus standard NCV testing techniques.

Electric Stimulation↗